I think we as human beings always need to be reminded that GOD WILL LIFT US UP in time of need, and everyday of our lives. I have come to learn on my mission that we need the Lord every minute of our lives. And he is there for us every minute of our lives. At times I have dwelt in my tribulations and afflictions and I have forgotten that He is there for me. I remember a few years ago I was going through a difficult time. I turned to my mom of course and she shared a scripture with me that I have never forgotten ever since. It has given me hope in many times of need. I have learned to trust in MY Savior Jesus Christ. He is my salvation he walks with me and sends his angels to bear me up.
Doctrine and Covenants 84:88
88 And whoso recieveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up.
Elder Robert D. Hales taught:
Tests and trials are given to all of us. These mortal challenges allow us and our Heavenly Father to see
whether we will exercise our agency to follow His Son.
Yes, “weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.Then, in the dawn of our increased faith and understanding, we arise and choose to wait upon the Lord, saying, “Thy will be done.”
"The Gospel provides great comfort, knowing that everything has a purpose"
Let us not give up on the Lord, His blessings are eternal. I invite you all to not give up, and if you feel like you cant go any further I promise you that HE IS THERE!
Patience is something that I have always had trouble with and I have been working HARD at it while on my mission. I know that I have made some improvements here and there, but I know I still have so much to learn. I came across a talk by the second counselor in the First Presidency Dieter F. Utchdorf and it hit me hard!! He mentioned a few things that we can learn, from being patient and how it can truly bless our lives. Here they are (These where my favorites)...
1. Waiting can be Hard
Heck yeah it is!! I have learned that waiting patiently is hard because we make it hard.
Patience the ability we give ourselves to put our desires on pause for a time and maybe even years. I remember wanting things and thinking to myself I want it and I want it know!!. As I look back the idea of patience was very very hard and yes at times not pleasant at all.
But without patience, as Elder Utchfdorf taught we cannot please God; we cannot become perfect. Yes, patience is a purifying process that refines understanding, deepens happiness, focuses action, and offers hope for peace.
So let us all remember that yes waiting is hard, but it helps us become who our Father in Heaven wants us to become, like his Son our Savior Jesus Christ.
2. Patience isn't just waiting
When I read this I thought to myself what? Yes it is and then I read this quote.
"There is an important concept here: patience is not passive resignation, nor is it failing to act because of our fears. Patience means active waiting and enduring. It means staying with something and doing all that we can—working, hoping, and exercising faith; bearing hardship with fortitude, even when the desires of our hearts are delayed. Patience is not simply enduring; it is enduring well!"
3. Patience requires FAITH
Yes it does!!
4. The Lord BLESSES us for our Patience
"If we wait patiently for the Lord, He will incline unto us. He will hear our cries. He will bring us out of a horrible pit and set our feet upon a solid rock. He will put a new song in our mouths, and we will praise our God. Many around us will see it, and they will trust in the Lord."
I Invite all of you to take a step back and look at what we have in front of us. Let us look at our blessings and if we do have things in our lives that we feel are weighing us down let us endure them joyfully with patience. For patience is what our Heavenly Father wants us to have let us wait patiently upon the Lord and exercise our faith in Him. As the Scriptures teach us....
"For if there be no faith among the children of men God can do no miracle among them; wherefore, he showed not himself until after their faith. " Ether 12:12
Let us learn from life and endure it with patience.
The lessons we learn from patience will cultivate our character, lift our lives, and heighten our happiness.
I must start off with today was a GREAT day! The things I have seen happen, in the little time I have been out on my mission! I mean WOW... Heavenly Father really looks out for everyone and especially those in search of His love and guidance. So today we had an appointment with a potential investigator which we had come across a couple days ago. We had our first visit with her today and can I say it went Great!! She is a young lady with a son who is 4 years old. We got to talking and asked her what her beliefs where and she said I believe in God, but I really want to raise my son a Mormon! She said that she had been wanting to go to church with her husband and son because she knows that, this will be a blessing in her life. So we got into the lesson and can I say the spirit was way strong! My companion Sister T started talking about promises we make with God and how when we make these promises we come closer to God. So she said if you know these things where true would you get baptized?...Drum roll please..... she said YES!! Can someone say MIRACLE... The reason I call it a miracle the week we found her we had been fasting as a companionship to find investigators to teach. Those ready to receive the message and of course have them come unto Christ. We where driving down the street about to visit a member in our ward and my companion said "Hey I know her" so we parked the car and went over to say hi we asked her if we could come to visit her the next week she said yes.
I mean the way our Heavenly Father works is so mysterious as long as we have faith and truly sincerely ask with real intent for the things that we want. He is ready to grant our desires as long as we are willing to come to Him and just ask. I have come to learn this on my mission and can I say it works every time.
“A miracle is an extraordinary event caused by the power of God. Miracles are an important element in the work of Jesus Christ. They include healings, restoring the dead to life, and resurrection. Miracles are a part of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Faith is necessary in order for miracles to be manifested”
Mormon 9:10-11;20
10 And now, if ye have imagined up unto yourselves a god who doth vary, and in whom there is shadow of changing, then have ye imagined up unto yourselves a god who is not a God of miracles.
11 But behold, I will show unto you a God of amiracles, even the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob; and it is that same bGod who created the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are.
20 And the reason why he ceaseth to do amiracles among the children of men is because that they dwindle in unbelief, and depart from the right way, and know not the God in whom they should btrust.
I would like to invite all of you to pray to our Heavenly Father for those things you are seeking for,iIf you do it with a sincere heart and sincerely ask I or plead to Him to help I know without a doubt your prayers will be answered and your needs will be met.
